Alumna Lauren Gumbel is Grateful for Experiences

In 2011, Carnegie Mellon University swimming and diving alumna Lauren Gumbel not only graduated with a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science, but entered Teach for America with the leadership skills and self-confidence to be a mentor for her students.

Gumbel, a member of the swimming and diving program at Carnegie Mellon during her four years, believes that being a part of the team was a transformative experience.

“Being a part of the swim team here was the best decision I could have made,” Gumbel said. “It kept me disciplined, taught me leadership, and proved to me that I could do far more than I ever thought I could.”

Gumbel was a part of current head coach Matt Kinney’s first freshmen class, and he was a mentor to her during her time at Carnegie Mellon and remains a mentor in her life still.

“I want to always make sure that I keep in contact with Coach Kinney,” Gumbel said. “He is the reason I stayed all four years, and he took such good care of us and was and is such a positive influence in my life.”

After graduating, Gumbel spoke with Kinney about swimming on a master’s team, which she now participates in and competes for once a month in her hometown of Chicago. 

Gumbel lives and teaches high school special education in Chicago at a Charter School. 

After graduating, Gumbel joined Teach for America, where she was trained to become a teacher.  She has been teaching for two-and-a-half years.  During her time with Teach for America, she received a master’s degree in special education and is looking to get another certificate. 

“I love my job,” Gumbel beamed. “I teach freshmen and sophomore special education students and work in English specifically, but I would really like to move into teaching seniors and helping them get into college.”

Gumbel has taught students in grades kindergarten through 12, but loves teaching high school.

“I can have such honest conversations with them and have such a meaningful impact on their lives,” Gumbel stated. “These students are in a place where they are making serious life decisions and I am helping kids with special needs decide where to go to college and how to get them the services they need.”

“Being able to do that is invaluable to me,” Gumbel added.

On February 22, Gumbel visited campus to represent Dietrich College for an event called CMU Under-construction, which is an event where alumni return to the university to speak to students about their experiences, what fields they are currently working in, what got them there, and how current students can get into those fields as well.

“I think that the field of education is not something that is generally associated with Carnegie Mellon because it doesn’t have an education school or major, but I ended up there anyway and I know a lot of people who graduated from CMU who have ended up in education as well,” Gumbel said.

Gumbel couldn’t have been more excited about being on campus and loves the fact that she is only a one-hour plane ride from her alma mater. 

“I am pretty excited to be here and have this opportunity because I love giving back to this school in any way I can,” Gumbel stated.

Gumbel loves being able to go watch the swim team compete when they go to Chicago, and contributes to Carnegie Mellon every year in every way she can. 

“I value loyalty to the people and organizations that got me to where I am now,” Gumbel said. “The organizations that I joined during my time at Carnegie Mellon have changed me in so many ways and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.”

Gumbel values the opportunity to be able to come and visit CMU, and then returning to Chicago to her students and sharing her experiences about her time here.

“I love when my students ask me about my experiences because I can talk to them about things and people which have changed my life and hopefully I will be able to help them change theirs,” Gumbel said.

“Being able to tell my students that CMU is my alma mater and this is how much I loved it and still love it and this is how much your college (hopefully CMU) is going to change you and help you grow means so much to me,” Gumbel said.

Gumbel believes that giving back to organizations that have changed her so much make her better at the things she is doing now.

“I hosted a professional development event at the high school where I teach and I felt completely comfortable doing all of that because I had so much experience being a leader at CMU,” Gumbel said.

Gumbel also serves on the Carnegie Mellon admissions council and has been interviewing prospective students.

“I just interviewed someone who wants to be on the swim team,” Gumbel remembered. “It means a lot to me to get to witness what may be the next generation of swimmers.”

Gumbel is looking forward to continuing to contribute to the lives of her students and to the people and organizations that have helped mold her into the person that she is today.